Interim Workforce Change & ER Lead

People Management magazine; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

UWE Bristol is seeking an experienced and influential Interim Workforce Change & Employee Relations professional to lead the people aspects of a significant transformation programme. Reporting to the Director of People Services, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for workforce change, collective consultation and trade union engagement across a complex and evolving organisation.

This role requires a credible ER leader who can navigate change, manage risk, and partner with

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading workforce change and employee relations.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and collective consultation.
• Credible ER leader with union engagement experience.

Responsibilities

• Act as senior lead for trade union engagement and complex negotiations.
• Design and deliver collective consultation processes with legal compliance.
• Lead employee relations across major transformation programmes.
• Advise on workforce change, including restructuring and policy reform.
• Manage complex employee/industrial relations matters and risk.
• Collaborate with legal advisers to support robust decisions.
• Provide assurance to senior leaders on ER risks and delivery.
• Develop internal capability through coaching and knowledge transfer.

Skills

Employee relations

Trade union engagement

Negotiation

Policy development

Job description

UWE Bristol is an ambitious, forward-thinking university with a clear purpose: to transform futures through outstanding learning, research and enterprise. As one of the UK's leading modern universities, we are committed to creating opportunities, supporting our communities and developing solutions to some of society's biggest challenges. Our values of being ambitious, collaborative, inclusive, innovative and enterprising underpin everything we do

We are seeking an experienced and influential Interim Workforce Change & Employee Relations professional to lead the people aspects of a significant transformation programme. Reporting to the Director of People Services, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for workforce change, collective consultation and trade union engagement across a complex and evolving organisation.

This is a high-profile role requiring a credible ER leader who can navigate complex change with con fidence, build strong relationships with recognised trade unions, manage organisational risk and provide expert advice and assurance to senior leaders. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring significant workforce change and transformation programmes are delivered fairly, effectively and in line with employment legislation, while helping to shape the future workforce and employee relations landscape of the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the senior lead for trade union engagement, building effective partnerships and leading multiple and complex negotiations on longstanding policy development
• Design and deliver collective consultation processes, ensuring legal compliance and best practice.
• Lead employee relations activity across major transformation and change programmes.
• Advise on workforce change, including restructuring, redeployment, voluntary severance and policy reform.
• Manage complex employee and industrial relations matters, including potential industrial action.
• Work closely with legal advisers to mitigate risk and ensure robust decision-making.
• Provide assurance and insight to senior leaders on employee relations risks and programme delivery.
• Develop internal capability through coaching and knowledge transfer, leaving a strong and sustainable legacy.

You will have the opportunity to lead complex, high-profile negotiations, advise senior leaders and governors on matters of significant organisational importance, and leave a lasting legacy through the development of stronger employee relations capability, modernised frameworks and enhanced ways of working. For an experienced ER professional looking for a role that combines strategic influence, organisational impact and professional challenge, this is a unique opportunity to make a genuine difference.

This role offers a hybrid working arrangement with a requirement of 3 days onsite at the UWE campus.